Freshwater News March 2012

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Freshwater News The latest news from Freshwater Action Network March 2012 No.20

INSIDE: FAN Global – countdown to independence FAN members design global roadmap for change 6SHFLDO IRFXV WKH EHQHĂ€WV RI )$1 PHPEHUVKLS Writing competition: building capacity from the bottom up ANEW member Ngabagchila Chatata shares her experiences Transformation of water policy in Central America A network in motion: developing shared solutions for common problems FANMex: linking knowledge and solutions from local to global /HDUQLQJ VKDULQJ LQĂ XHQFLQJ JHWWLQJ PHPEHUV¡ YRLFHV KHDUG

WELCOME TO FRESHWATER NEWS MARCH 2012 A collectors item! This is our last issue before FAN Global independence. As a reminder to our members of the value of the JOREDO QHWZRUN ZH KDYH LQFOXGHG D UDQJH RI DUWLFOHV RQ WKH EHQHĂ€WV RI PHPEHUVKLS +HDU IURP PHPEHUV DERXW ZKDW WKH\ KDYH JDLQHG LQ DUWLFOHV WKURXJKRXW WKLV LVVXH IURP )$1 0H[LFR¡V Linking knowledge and solutions from local to global to )$1 6RXWK $VLD¡V /HDUQLQJ VKDULQJ LQĂ XHQFLQJ JHWWLQJ PHPEHUV¡ YRLFHV KHDUG and more.

FAREWELL TO CERIDWEN! )$1 *OREDO ELGV D KHDUWIHOW IDUHZHOO WR &HULGZHQ -RKQVRQ )$1¡V 1HWZRUN DQG Communications Manager, who is leaving the network after six years of dedicated service. Ceridwen played an instrumental role supporting the development of the South Asian network and changing the face of FAN communications. She joins FAN partner, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), to lead the advocacy and communications work on the Sanitation and Water for All Partnership (SWA). Read a few of the well wishes she received from around the network: We are going to miss you very much at FAN and in the new FAN Global. Let me wish you the very best of luck and thank you for all your support to ANEW in the time you have worked at FAN. For ANEW, we are losing a very good supporter and an extra hand for our work.

&RQJUDWXODWLRQV <RX KDYH H[FHOOHQWO\ VHUYHG )$1 DQG ,¡P sure your legacy will be felt for many years to come. I am personally grateful to have had the opportunity to work with you. We will miss you; especially your energy, level of commitment and infectious smile, even when the going gets tough.

Baker Yiga, ANEW Regional Coordinator -XGLWK $XPD $1(: 5HJLRQDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU Thanks Ceridwen, good luck in your new adventure! It has been a real pleasure working with you for all these years! I am sure we will continue to work together to grant the access to water and sanitation to all! Rolando Castro, CEDARENA, FAN Central America To read more, visit the website: www.freshwateraction.net/farewellceridwen

You have really provided enormous support in initiating DQG GHYHORSLQJ )$16$ DQG LW¡V QR H[DJJHUDWLRQ WR VD\ that FANSA would not have come up to this stage without all your committed support. I have greatly enjoyed working with you. Thank you very much for everything. Ramisetty Murali, FAN South Asia Convenor

THE WORLD WALKS FOR WATER 2012 Last year, a fantastic 350,000 people took part in the World Walks for Water, including many FAN members. This year, from 17 to 25 March 2012, thousands more people are walking together to demand strengthened national policy and to get government ministers to attend the Sanitation and Water for All High-Level Meeting in April 2012, where necessary steps to end the crisis can be taken. www.worldwalksforwater.org

PHOTO COMPETITION Congratulations to ANEW member OussĂŠni Diallo from Green Cross in Burkina Faso who won the photo competition for the joyous image of schoolchildren in the rural north of the country drinking from their new water point featured on our front cover.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FAN Global – countdown to independence ..................3 Writing competition: building capacity from the bottom up .........................................................................................3

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FAN Central America ..................................................... 8/9 FAN Mexico ................................................................. 10/11 FAN South Asia ............................................................ 12/13 FAN South America ..........................................................14

FAN members design global roadmap for change .......4

Contact details.................................................................15

African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation .. .......................................................................................... 6/7

Member in focus: ConcepciĂłn de Naranjo Community Water District ....................................................................16

FAN GLOBAL – COUNTDOWN TO INDEPENDENCE FAN independence is fast approaching and plans have been progressing well. In July 2012, FAN will complete its period of transition out of WaterAid. A new organization, FAN Global, will be registered as a charity in the UK and FAN Global will be governed by an international Board UHSUHVHQWLQJ WKH UHJLRQDO Âś)$1¡ QHWZRUNV Since our establishment in 2000, WaterAid has provided LQYDOXDEOH RUJDQL]DWLRQDO DQG Ă€QDQFLDO VXSSRUW WR )$1 LQFOXGLQJ KRVWLQJ WKH JOREDO 6HFUHWDULDW LQ WKHLU RIĂ€FHV in London. In the future, a smaller global Secretariat will work in collaboration with the membership and regional networks to coordinate global advocacy, programming, fundraising, strategy and governance. We look forward to continuing our network and advocacy collaborations with all our members, partners and supporters who we have worked with over the past ten years. Freshwater News asked our dedicated Regional Coordinators, who will play a larger role in this scenario, to share their vision for the network postindependence. Danielle Morley, Executive Secretary, FAN Global

Visions of an independent FAN Global “A strong and recognized platform to amplify the voices of civil society organizations.� Jorge Mora, FAN Central America (FANCA) “Mobilizing civil society actors and promoting citizens’ voices to be heard from the grassroots to the global level.� Baker Yiga, African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) “South to South knowledge sharing and solidarity to secure the human rights to water and sanitation for all.� Nathalie Seguin, FAN Mexico (FANMex) “A voice for water and sanitation in the global arena.� German Rocha, FAN South America (FANAS) “A platform for South-South solidarity and shared leadership.� Ramisetty Murali , FAN South Asia (FANSA)

Visit our website to learn more about our journey to independence: www.freshwateraction.net/independence

WRITING COMPETITION WINNER: BUILDING CAPACITY FROM THE BOTTOM UP A founding member of FANMex, SARAR TransformaciĂłn has taken advantage of the scope and reach of the network at the regional and global levels to raise awareness of its work on sustainable eco-sanitation and participatory methodology. Through partnerships forged in the process, SARAR has been able to learn, share and improve their work. 7KLV HQULFKPHQW KDV GLUHFWO\ EHQHĂ€WHG WKH SHRSOH supported by SARAR’s work, as Ron Sawyer, director of SARAR, explains below in the case of Guadalupe (‘Lupita’) Rivera RĂ­os. We met Lupita in 2003 when she, along with other young people from San Juan Tlacotenco in Morelos State, attended our course on environmental sanitation. As soon as she learned about ecological sanitation, she devoted herself to spreading the word and became a driving force behind take up of sustainable water and sanitation systems and hygiene practices in her community. Thanks to Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation (BPDWS), who we met through FAN, Lupita was able to represent her community at workshops to share the results and lessons learned from water and sanitation projects in the region.

Guadalupe (Lupita) Rivera RĂ­os

Last year, Lupita also had the opportunity to present her work at the Community Water Management Forum organized by GEA, another FANMex member; and then, in January 2012, she was sponsored by the AVINA Foundation to share her work as a SARAR participatory methodology facilitator at a Regional Conference on Hygiene in the Dominican Republic organized by the World Bank. Lupita’s story is an excellent example of empowerment through local WR JOREDO H[FKDQJHV D WDQJLEOH EHQHÀW RI EHLQJ D member of FAN! 3

FAN MEMBERS DESIGN GLOBAL ROADMAP FOR CHANGE A group of FAN advocacy champions have GHYHORSHG DQ DFWLRQ SODQ EXLOGLQJ RQ PHPEHUV· existing advocacy plans to amplify efforts at all levels by linking the local to the global. Our newly formed FAN Global Advocacy Team developed the initial plans, which focus on FAN Global’s strategic themes – ‘climate change and integrated water resource management’, ‘governance, transparency and monitoring’ and ‘the human rights to water and sanitation’ – at a meeting jointly hosted by FAN and End Water Poverty (EWP) in December 2011. The meeting aimed to align national plans and global priorities and provide a clear and linked up framework to which members can choose to contribute to or seek support from. Over 40 participants from across the world – campaigners, communication specialists and advocates from Costa Rica and Malawi to The Netherlands and Pakistan – brought a broad range of experience and a truly global perspective to discussions. “The meeting was a good mix of sincerity, intensity and brilliance,” says Eklavya Prasad of Megh Pyne Abhiyan (Cloud Water Campaign) in India, FANSA member, ´:H KHDGHG KRPH ZLWK D ÀUP EHOLHI WKDW WKH journey will continue with enhanced enthusiasm.” Rather than develop new areas of work, the plans were built on knowledge of member activities already taking place that could be pulled together and leveraged for global impact. This means that the plans are realistic and achievable. In terms of climate change, the overall advocacy objective focuses on ensuring that climate change adaptation planning and actions at global, national

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Depinder Kapur comments on the plans presented by the climate change group at FAN’s advocacy planning meeting

and local levels are informed by community-based adaptation approaches to water resources. We will begin by identifying and researching successful adaptation approaches at the local level to inform advocacy at the international level. Many FAN members are already working with local communities on climate change issues so this work will combine existing knowledge to advocate for improved climate change policy at the global level, XOWLPDWHO\ EHQHÀWLQJ DQG VXSSRUWLQJ PHPEHUV· ZRUN on the ground. Similarly, the rights objective intends to support PHPEHUV· ZRUN $FWLYLWLHV IRFXV RQ LQÁXHQFLQJ governments to develop a roadmap for adopting human rights based national action plans on water and sanitation, implementing the 2010 UN General Assembly and UN Human Rights Council recognition of the human rights to water and sanitation. The plan includes activities to raise awareness of the rights as well as developing an understanding of critical implementation issues faced by practitioners and will support the excellent work many FAN members are undertaking on rights at the national level. Rolando Castro of FANCA and CEDARENA, Costa Rica, says: “It was interesting to join together with people from all over the world and draw out our common activities IRU MRLQLQJ XS DW WKH JOREDO OHYHO , FDQ GHÀQLWHO\ VHH how my work (for example around UN climate change negotiations) can contribute to this plan and am excited to put it into practice.” Read the advocacy plans on the FAN Global website: www.freshwateraction.net/advocacyplanning

FAN members strategizing at the Global Advocay Meeting

OUR MESSAGE FOR RIO+20: HUMAN RIGHTS APPROACH IS KEY TO ENSURING EQUITABLE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The Rio+20 summit, which takes place in June 2012, is concerned with renewing political commitment to sustainable development – development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In the face of dwindling resources, the poor and marginalized will struggle most to meet their needs. As a voice for southern civil society, FAN is concerned about their plight and is promoting the human rights based approach at Rio+20 as part of the solution. Mary O’Connell, FAN Advocacy and Learning Manager, says: “A focus on equity and inclusion in this process is crucial as the poorest will suffer the most. The human rights based approach focuses on the poorest and most marginalized which is why FAN believes it is the key to ensuring equitable sustainable development and must be part of the solution.” Our message for Rio+20 builds on the work FAN representatives did to promote the human rights approach at the Bonn Nexus conference, organized by the German Federal Government in 2011 in preparation for Rio+20. FAN’s Executive Secretary Danielle Morley and Sena Alouka, FAN member and Executive Director of Young Volunteers for the Environment, Togo, appeared on the

global panel on human rights which opened the conference and set the tone for the following days in which the human rights to water, sanitation and food were mentioned ‘time and time again’ by diverse stakeholders in a range of sessions. Sena Louka speaking

Nicolas Sarkozy, President of on the panel on rights France which is the host country at Bonn Nexus of the 6th World Water Forum, has DIÀUPHG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI SODFLQJ ZDWHU ¶at the centre of policies, of all our policies’ and has promised to bring the outcomes of the forum to Rio +20. FAN is leveraging this high level statement to push our messages in a FAN Global side event at the 6th World Water Forum and in all of the spaces where we are participating at the forum. The side event will also support the new FAN advocacy action plan on rights which is seeking to develop a civil society contribution to the global indicators dialogue for the post Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework on sustainable development. Read about our participation in these processes on the FAN Global website: www.freshwateraction.net/BonnNexus www.freshwateraction.net/WWF2012 www.freshwateraction.net/rio20

NEW PUBLICATION: COMPENDIUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS TO WATER AND SANITATION At this interesting time in the development of the human rights to water and sanitation, FAN Global, in partnership with WASH United and WaterLex, are launching a publication of laws, policies and standards that guarantee the human rights to water and sanitation at the national, regional and international levels. The compendium will serve as a comprehensive reference book on the legal status of the human rights to water and sanitation in both the international and national contexts and will provide cases for comparison for those creating or reforming law on water and sanitation. ANEW member Laurent Gabi, National Permanent Secretary of the Cameroon Network of Human Rights Organizations welcomes the publication: ´7KH FRPSHQGLXP RIIHUV D YDOXDEOH WRRO IRU WKRVH ÀJKWLQJ IRU LPSURYHG ZDWHU DQG VDQLWDWLRQ DW WKH QDWLRQDO OHYHO and opens the door for a comparative analysis of legal frameworks when designing policy and laws.” In September 2010, we welcomed the UN Human Rights Council recognition of the human rights to water and sanitation as part of existing international law. Now, governments can no longer deny their legal responsibility for ensuring the progressive realization of the human rights to access safe water and sanitation services and sanitation. www.freshwateraction.net/rightscompendium

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AFRICAN PARTNERS AGREE ON NEED TO TACKLE CORRUPTION At a 6th World Water Forum regional consultative meeting in October 2011, corruption within utilities ZDV LGHQWLĂ€HG DV RQH RI WKH LVVXHV WKDW VKRXOG EH addressed when developing solutions for water, VDQLWDWLRQ DQG K\JLHQH :$6+ VHFWRU Ă€QDQFLQJ The meeting, organized by ANEW, the Africa Development Bank, the Africa Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) and other partners, focused on RQH RI WKH IRUXP¡V WDUJHWV RQ Ă€QDQFLQJ to develop DQG LPSOHPHQW LQ DOO FRXQWULHV LQQRYDWLYH Ă€QDQFLDO mechanisms including taxes, tariffs and transfers to PHHW WKH 0'*V Ă€QDQFLDO UHTXLUHPHQWV E\ Gladys Nagawa, one of the participants from UWASNET Uganda, says: “The meeting was highly participatory and enabled ANEW members to contribute ideas about how to improve WASH service delivery globally. We agreed that reforms are among the most effective solutions and that ring-fencing the sector resources would protect existing funds for investment.â€? Participants discussed the challenges affecting the :$6+ VHFWRU LQ WHUPV RI Ă€QDQFLQJ DQG H[SORUHG D QXPEHU RI VWUDWHJLF Ă€QDQFLQJ IUDPHZRUNV WKDW FRXOG be used as models by African countries, including: ZDWHU UHIRUPV DQG Ă€QDQFLQJ LQ .HQ\D SUR SRRU Ă€QDQFLQJ LQ XUEDQ DUHDV LQ =DPELD ZDWHU Ă€QDQFLQJ LQQRYDWLRQV LQ 6HQHJDO ZDWHU Ă€QDQFLQJ LQ (WKLRSLD DQG LUULJDWLRQ Ă€QDQFLQJ LQ 6XGDQ

REVIEW AND PLANNING

ANEW members at the Northern Works wastewater treatment plant in Johannesburg

A visit to Johannesburg Water’s Northern Works wastewater treatment plant allowed delegates to OHDUQ ÀUVW KDQG DERXW LWV ÀQDQFLQJ PHFKDQLVPV 7KH company adopts a tariff approach, which increases costs gradually for higher consumption bands and types of user. It also provides free water, within a range of 10kl to 15kl per household, to those in need if they meet certain criteria and are registered. 7KH GLVFXVVLRQV FRQFOXGHG WKDW ÀQDQFLQJ VROXWLRQV should explore effective use of existing resources. In particular, solutions need to overcome the loss of income in utilities through corruption and how utilities can be supported to provide low, or no cost water, to WKH SRRU ZKLOH UHPDLQLQJ SURÀWDEOH

COORDINATION IMPROVES THANKS TO FAN GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY PROGRAM A review of the Governance and Transparency Fund *7) LQ (DVW DQG 6RXWKHUQ $IULFD KDV LGHQWLĂ€HG D UDQJH of achievements including the strengthening of national QHWZRUNV OLNH ÂśEDE\ 0DODZL¡ The project has improved coordination, transparency and monitoring through strengthened networking, improved documentation of civil society organization (CSO) contributions (as evidenced in UWASNET in Uganda), the development of a regional Information system (in WaterAid Madagascar), improved CSO capacity in Malawi and increased representation of CSOs at national multi-stakeholder forums in Ethiopia. Hilary Azaarwa, a participant from UWASNET, the national network in Uganda emphasized the strengthening of the national networks:

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“Being part of the GTF and ANEW has enabled CSOs in the region to be recognized by key stakeholders,

Program partners at the review meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi

especially government, as valuable partners in development. CSO coordination at national level for all the countries where the program is operating has improved. Because ANEW encouraged the formation of QDWLRQDO QHWZRUNV OLNH :(61(7 ÂśEDE\ 0DODZL¡ LV JURZLQJ faster.â€? Going forward, the program will build on progress made so far by documenting good practices for learning and HQVXULQJ VSHHG\ DQG HIĂ€FLHQW FDSDFLW\ EXLOGLQJ RI WKH implementing partners.

FAREWELL INTERVIEW: PROFESSOR KAIRU, OUTGOING ANEW CHAIRMAN We bid farewell to Professor Kairu who joined ANEW as Chair in 2005. Under his leadership, ANEW developed a IRUPDO UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK $0&2: WKH $IULFDQ 0LQLVWHUV¡ &RXQFLO RQ :DWHU DQG ZDV RIĂ€FLDOO\ UHJLVWHUHG DV D WUXVW +H RYHUVDZ $1(:¡V WKUHH \HDU (8 SURJUDP +H stepped down as Chair in July 2011. How has ANEW contributed to improving WASH service delivery in Africa in the last 10 years? ANEW has contributed immensely to the improvement of WASH in Africa. For starters, through our concerted efforts, all the African governments were able to DJUHH RQ D VSHFLĂ€F EXGJHWDU\ WDUJHW IRU VDQLWDWLRQ and hygiene – 0.5% of the respective national budget. )XUWKHUPRUH XVLQJ WKH ÂśWUDIĂ€F OLJKWV¡ WRRO $1(: ZDV able to demonstrate how African governments were DGKHULQJ WR WKLV VSHFLĂ€F EXGJHWDU\ DOORFDWLRQ $W WKH national level, ANEW was also very much present in the formation of national platforms such as UWASNET, KEWASNET and TAWASANET for Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania respectively. The success of UWASNET, particularly with regards to its close partnership with the Government of Uganda, is yet another example of how ANEW has impacted positively on the delivery of WASH in Africa.

Where do you see ANEW and FAN in the next 10 years? I see ANEW as a well established pan-African network, positively LQĂ XHQFLQJ WKH pan-African WASH structures and all other development agencies operating at that level but, most of all, as a network whose activities have direct impacts at the country level. I see Professor Kairu FAN growing to be a truly global network that is actively engaging and SRVLWLYHO\ LQĂ XHQFLQJ JOREDO SURFHVVHV $ FOHDU example is the forthcoming 6th World Water Forum where FAN is making sure that continental bodies like ANEW are given their due recognition. Read the full interview online: www.freshwateraction.net/profkairu

CATCH UP WITH ANEW MEMBER NGABAGHILA CHATATA 1JDEDJKLOD &KDWDWD LV WKH 1DWLRQDO &RRUGLQDWRU RI :(61(7 $1(:¡V QDWLRQDO &62 QHWZRUN LQ 0DODZL $1(: &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU -XGLWK $XZD WDONV WR KHU DERXW her perceptions of ANEW. You were recently selected by ANEW to participate at Africasan 3. How did this SDUWLFLSDWLRQ EHQHĂ€W \RXU QHWZRUN DQG \RX DV DQ LQGLYLGXDO" My participation in Africasan 3 was an eye opener. It enabled me to appreciate the issues affecting our sector at the regional level. It also provided me with the opportunity to network with other national-level networks and learn from their experiences. Being a young network, WESNET had a lot to gain from these opportunities. My participation in the national level preparatory process enabled me to understand the context in my country better and provided me with a rare RSSRUWXQLW\ WR ZRUN FORVHO\ ZLWK JRYHUQPHQW RIĂ€FLDOV WRZDUGV D FRPPRQ JRDO Where do you see ANEW in the next 10 years? I see ANEW becoming a stronger regional ‘network of networks’ in Africa, effectively representing its membership at the global level. The capacity building programs under the EU have had positive impact in Africa with the process inspiring the birth of new national networks. ANEW should put more effort into grounding itself by setting up thematic working groups and supporting capacity building of national networks to contribute effectively to the implementation of ANEW programs. Read the full interview online: www.freshwateraction.net/Ngaba

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FRESHWATER ACTION NETWORK – CENTRAL AMERICA (FANCA) TRANSFORMATION OF WATER POLICY IN CENTRAL AMERICA In 2003, a meeting of social organizations from all over Central America provided the genesis for the FAN network in Central America which, a few years later, KDV WDNHQ D OHDGLQJ UROH LQ LQà XHQFLQJ ZDWHU SROLF\ within the region and globally. When this diverse group met in San Jose, Costa Rica, there wasn’t a network of civil society organizations advocating on water issues in the region. Perhaps it was the lack of a legal framework integrating water resource management which ensured the network’s LPPHGLDWH VXFFHVV LQ ÀOOLQJ D VSDFH QRW \HW RFFXSLHG by civil society. In the nine years since its creation, the water policy landscape in Central America has completely transformed. FANCA’s regional committee

´,¡P UHDOO\ SURXG RI ZKDW ZH KDYH FRQWULEXWHG to improving water policy in the region and the continuing work we are doing towards more sustainable, fair and equitable water management. Not only have two national water laws been passed in Nicaragua and Honduras in recent years, but national policies have also been developed for integrated management of water resources in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras,â€? explains Jorge Mora, FANCA Regional Coordinator. “Costa Rica has made progress with the draft National Water Agenda which would include a water law; a constitutional amendment to declare water a human right and public good; and a law to strengthen the communal water supply sector. “In Nicaragua, a law has been approved to strengthen community water Boards. FANCA has not only been present in all these processes but in most cases has been the vanguard for defending the interests of civil

society,� he continues. “The network has also played a major role in capacity building and improving transparency and accountability in self-managed communities.� However, the water situation in Central America remains critical. In some countries, much still remains to be done in terms of legislation. The threat of expansion of monoculture, strip mining, the excessive development of tourist and residential infrastructure as well as the threat of privatization in countries where there is no constitutional protection still looms. The FANCA project is far from exhausted. Today, more than ever, there is a need to strengthen the network to build on the progress made in order to manage the challenges posed by population growth and climate change.

FANCA LAUNCHES NEW RADIO PROGRAM A new weekly chat-format radio program, Code H2O, which invites different guests to discuss water-related issues each week and covers water-related news in Central America, was launched in January. Andres Mora, FANCA Communications 2IĂ€FHU GLUHFWV WKH SURJUDP ZKLFK LV RSHQ WR DOO PHPEHU organizations of the network to disseminate important issues related to their work. Code H2O broadcasts every Monday in Spanish from 1 PM to 2 PM (UTC / GMT -6 hours). In San JosĂŠ, Costa Rica, and in parts of Nicaragua and Panama, listen through FM 107.1. Elsewhere, tune in through www.radioactualfm.com 8

$QGUHV 0RUD )$1&$ &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU DQG radio show guest

GOVERNMENT SUSPENDS MINING PLANS AFTER VIOLENT STRUGGLE WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES In early February 2012, the NgĂśbe-BuglĂŠ indigenous people in Panama suffered severe repression when they protested against open pit mining and hydroelectric power plans. The NgĂśbe-BuglĂŠ closed roads and held protests in different parts of the country against plans that they fear will be destructive for the environment, water sources and the health of people living in indigenous territories, already damaged by previous developments. Panamanian security forces, purported to be allied with powerful multinational mining and hydroelectric power commercial interests, attacked protesters with bullets. The repression resulted in several deaths

Silvia Carrera, leader of the NgĂśbe-BuglĂŠ people

Protest in Panama in which a number of indigeous people were killed and injured

and dozens of indigenous people suffered injuries and were arrested. Despite this, the NgĂśbe-BuglĂŠ people remained united in their struggle. Pressure from the Catholic Church, the social sector and the international community forced the government to negotiate with indigenous communities, pledging to suspend open pit mining projects in the concerned areas and shelving the hydroelectric plans.

NATIONAL UPDATES Guatemala GHYHORSHG D 1DWLRQDO :DWHU 3ROLF\ LQ $OWKRXJK IDU IURP FRPSUHKHQVLYH WKLV ZLOO KRSHIXOO\ EH D Ă€UVW step towards establishing a Water and Sanitation Law. In January 2012, a regional forum on ‘The human rights to water and sanitation: from recognition to practice’ was held at the headquarters of the Central American Integration System in El Salvador which aims to initiate the integration of public institutions, civil society organizations and donor efforts to put into practice the UN recognition of the rights to water and sanitation. FANCA supported the involvement of civil society members in the event which was organized by the Alliance for Water Network in Central America. Members of the Central American Integration System (SICA) in Nicaragua discussed issues relating water in terms of the sewage situation in Central America in February. The National Alliance for the Defense of Water (ANDA) in Costa Rica is developing an advocacy and media strategy to advocate for the adoption of the National Water Agenda which would include: a water bill; a constitutional amendment to declare water as human right and a public good; and a law to strengthen the communal water supply sector. 9

FRESHWATER ACTION NETWORK – MEXICO FANMEX: LINKING KNOWLEDGE AND SOLUTIONS FROM THE LOCAL TO THE GLOBAL Since its inception during the build up to the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico City in 2006, FANMex KDV VXSSRUWHG DQG HQKDQFHG LWV PHPEHUV¡ ZRUN by providing a hub for learning, partnerships and LQĂ XHQFLQJ

conservation of the Valle de Bravo river basin, located in the state of Mexico. Ten years on, following the 2009 World Water Forum in Istanbul, our organization became a member of the FANMex Steering Committee.

In a short space of time, FANMex has grown and positioned itself as the only Mexican network of civil society grassroots organizations working on water that KDV DQ LQĂ XHQFH RQ GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ SODWIRUPV 7KDQNV to the experience of its members, FANMex can work for the acknowledgement and implementation of the human rights to water and sanitation at national, regional and global level, both to secure water and address sanitation as well as to improve natural resource management at the micro-watershed level. The members seek to develop programs and projects incorporating social and environmental issues in order to promote a truly sustainable development, thus becoming an advocate for a more integrated approach to water and sanitation.

Joining FANMex has helped us to engage with other like-minded organizations. As a result, we have been able to compare approaches and practices, build on our activities with new projects and participate in discussions that go beyond the local arena. FANMex has given us an opportunity to travel alongside others throughout this journey, where we normally work in isolation on a day-to-day basis. The national, regional and global perspective provided by FANMex has been extremely useful to us as it has enabled us to assess our own work. We have had visits from other members to our facilities, which has led to training courses and stronger capacity and organizational development at the local level. +RUDFLR %RQĂ€O 'LUHFWRU RI 3UR &XHQFD

The following accounts of three FANMex members VKRZ KRZ PHPEHUV EHQHĂ€W IURP EHLQJ SDUW RI WKH QHWZRUN LQ D QXPEHU RI ZD\V WKDW OLQN WR )$1¡V FRUH pillars; to be a network of change makers, linking the local and the global, acting as a platform for dialogue DQG LQĂ XHQFH DQG SURYLGLQJ D IRUXP IRU VKDULQJ learning and experiences.

Georgina Vidriales Chan, SENDAS Director, at the 2011 FAN advocacy planning meeting

+RUDFLR %RQĂ€O 'LUHFWRU RI 3UR &XHQFD DW WK :RUOG :DWHU Forum preparatory meeting

Fondo Pro Cuenca Valle de Bravo (Valle de Bravo Basin Fund) was set up in 1999 to work for the

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SENDAS is an organization based in the Mexican state of Veracruz that works on the promotion of sustainable development through natural resources management and local development based on justice and human dignity. SENDAS also joined FANMex in 2009. The experience of working with FANMex and its members has been a surprisingly fraternal journey

involving a lot of learning. Sharing an aim and vision, linking actions from the local to the global and vice versa, has allowed us to work on a number of issues, including water governance, human rights, access to water and sanitation, climate change, and health. These areas cannot be dealt with separately; their complexity demands an integrated and networked approach. The network plays an important role to link the local and the global in an inclusive and participatory way. Of all the key elements underpinning the work of FANMex, I would highlight the opportunity to strengthen and bring together inclusive, informed and participatory citizen platforms. FANMex allows us to take local voices to national and international decision-making events, so that they will be heard and taken into account. Above all, I value the exchange of knowledge. I think that exchanging knowledge between different network members and sharing our successes as well as the challenges and issues facing our common realities, is our main strength and is the driving force behind our joint activities. Georgina Vidriales Chan, SENDAS Director Sarar Transformación is a consultancy group whose main focus is the development and promotion of environmental sanitation systems. Ron Sawyer describes how a more strategic, joined up approach FDQ LQà XHQFH KLJK OHYHO SURFHVVHV , ZDV ÀUVW DZDUH RI )$1 ZKHQ LW ZDV MXVW DQ LGHD DW WKH 2000 World Water Forum in The Hague. I later met its ÀUVW PHPEHUV DW GLIIHUHQW JOREDO HYHQWV LQFOXGLQJ DW the 2003 World Water Forum in Kyoto. In 2005, it was a great privilege to be invited by Jorge Mora, FANCA Coordinator, to a preliminary meeting in Mexico with other Mexican water related NGOs in order to develop a platform for greater civil society participation in

the 2006 World Water Forum in Mexico. During the preparatory meetings, we got to know each other better and agreed upon our common goals and objectives. Our work proved to be fruitful in that the organizations were able to have a greater voice in the Ron Sawyer, Director of Sarar process. TransformaciĂłn

Subsequently, under the direction of Nathalie Seguin, FANMex became an autonomous network with strong collaborative links with FANCA and is beginning collaborative links with FANAS. The network still has limited membership and geographical reach but the core organizations are strong NGOs who have developed their own expertise in their local geographical areas, ie watersheds, nationally and internationally. This rich experience has generated a vibrant network which has in turn strengthened its member organizations. The work continues. In preparation for the 2012 World Water Forum in Marseille and Rio+20, the FANMex network, together with FANCA, has an important role and impact in the regional World Water Forum process, as well as at the global level, particularly through the %XWWHUĂ \ (IIHFW FRDOLWLRQ )RU PH SHUVRQDOO\ LW KDV EHHQ a tremendous pleasure and a rewarding experience to be able to contribute to the FAN national, regional and international process; and through that to be able to see the fruits of our collective efforts. Ron Sawyer, Director of Sarar TransformaciĂłn

RIGHT TO WATER APPROVED IN MEXICAN CONSTITUTION A majority vote approved the reform to article 4 of the constitution establishing that ‘every person has the ULJKW WR DFFHVV XVH DQG VDQLWDWLRQ RI ZDWHU IRU SHUVRQDO DQG GRPHVWLF XVH LQ VXIĂ€FLHQW TXDQWLW\ TXDOLW\ acceptability and affordability. The State will guarantee this right.’ FANMex welcomes this development which will support the work of its members to improve people’s lives in Mexico.

11

FRESHWATER ACTION NETWORK – SOUTH ASIA (FANSA) /($51,1* 6+$5,1* ,1)/8(1&,1* *(77,1* 0(0%(56¡ 92,&(6 HEARD ,Q ZH FHOHEUDWHG )$1 *OREDO¡V Ă€UVW GHFDGH 2YHU the last ten years, FAN Global has facilitated members to learn, share, access advocacy opportunities and develop partnerships. Here our members speak for themselves about some of the ways in which they have EHQHĂ€WHG Learning and sharing In October 2011, a number of FANSA and ANEW members were invited to take part in WSSCC’s Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene. It provided a rare opportunity for FANSA and ANEW members to meet, learn and share as well as a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of our added value and work together to inspire others. “Water and sanitation are almost always subsidized in development programs, the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach is not and this is the most important aspect in my opinion. On my return to Bangladesh, I will promote the CLTS approach in my program implementation.â€? Mahamuda Begum, FANSA member, Bangladesh “It was really inspiring to see the progress made in urban settlements by Sevanatha, a Sri Lankan NGO, and how they mobilized the municipality and government to ZRUN WRZDUGV PDQDJHG XUEDQL]DWLRQ 7KHLU :RPHQ¡V %DQN LQLWLDWLYH GHVHUYHV SUDLVH DV LW HVWDEOLVKHV ZRPHQ¡V identity in a long-term, strategic manner. After the visit, we organized a cross-learning workshop to motivate our members and produced a thematic paper on savings and credit to promote similar projects back home.â€? Ratan Budhathoki, Nepal FAN member Advocacy The network has contributed to positive change at many levels, raising awareness among a range of audiences; from the grassroots to governments and during high-level processes. ´7KDQNV WR )$1 *OREDO¡V UHSXWDWLRQ DV D YRLFH IRU southern civil society, I was invited to represent civil society in Sanitation for All (SWA) which allowed me to voice the concerns of the grassroots in this high-level process.â€? Yakub Hossain, National Convenor, FANSA Bangladesh “I had the opportunity to make a live report participating in the civil society pre-meeting to SACOSAN in Sri Lanka and aired the material via Kantipur Television 12

FANSA and ANEW members at WSSCC’s Global Forum on Sanitation and Hygiene

immediately after the visit. I also produced two other reports based on water and sanitation sector initiatives which received a great response from audiences.â€? Gobinda Nepal, TV journalist from Nepal “Thanks to the support of FAN Global, FANSA has become a recognized forum, which represents the voices of the communities and works as a bridge between them and the government.â€? Ramisetty Murali, FANSA Regional Convener Partnership and networking Over the years, partnerships within the network and with key stakeholders including other NGOs and the media have grown strong and prosperous. “FANSA has been very instrumental and different in the sense that it offered us a global forum with a lot of other stakeholders from Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. We got to learn from them, share, and network for future collaboration.â€? Tanya Khan, FANSA Pakistan member “I am proud to be an integral part of FAN. Three years EDFN WKH PHQWLRQ RI )$1 GLGQ¡W ULQJ DQ\ EHOOV IRU PH despite being a journalist. FAN worked as a teacher and a trainer for me and helped me evolve and grow from a journalist to an activist. Today I am a supporter in the WASH sector and I owe it to FAN, which has allowed everyone under its umbrella to grow independently.â€? Alka Pandey, Journalist, FANSA Solidarity member

SOUTH ASIAN MINISTERIAL SUMMIT INCLUDES SANITATION IN FINAL DECLARATION 6DQLWDWLRQ KDV EHHQ LQFOXGHG IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ WKH RIÀFLDO GHFODUDWLRQ RI D PHHWLQJ RI WKH 6RXWK $VLDQ Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) following a recommendation made by the Inter Country Working Group (ICWG) on sanitation. The 17th meeting of the SAARC, which took place in November 2011, produced the 20-point Addu Declaration including sanitation in point 14, committing to IRUPXODWH DQ DFWLRQDEOH IUDPHZRUN to address the common challenge of sanitation and DFFHVV WR VDIH GULQNLQJ ZDWHU LQ WKH UHJLRQ. Ramisetty Murali, FANSA Regional Convenor, who participated in an ICWG meeting on sanitation on 4-5 November 2011 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, says: ´, DP GHOLJKWHG WR ÀQG WKDW DFWLRQ SRLQW LQ WKH declaration refers to sanitation and access to safe drinking water because it provides scope to engage SAARC more in the SACOSAN process. This has brought the commitments to the highest governmental level.”

FANSA PAKISTAN SANITATION CAMPAIGN This engaging illustration is the artwork for FANSA Pakistan’s recently launched sanitation campaign which aims to mobilize communities to demand their basic rights to water and sanitation. ´:H DLP WR LQÁXHQFH policies and policymakers to implement WKH GHÀQHG SURFHGXUHV declaring water and sanitation as basic human rights and ensuring access and quality in Pakistan.” Syed Shah Nasir Khisro, Country Convenor of FANSA Pakistan.

The ICWG, which aims to facilitate delivery on commitments made at the South Asian Conference on Sanitation (SACOSAN), sent a letter to the SAARC in the run up to the conference recommending LQFOXVLRQ RI VDQLWDWLRQ LQ WKH RIÀFLDO GHFODUDWLRQ )$16$ holds a seat alongside government water secretaries and representatives from UNICEF, WSP, WSSCC and WaterAid. The ICWG urged that it is high time that sanitation is recognized as a priority in the region by SAARC. With sanitation featured in the SAARC declaration, the SAARC Secretariat can now be pressed to LQLWLDWH FRQFUHWH DFWLRQ ,W ZLOO DOVR UDLVH WKH SURÀOH of sanitation in the regional development and cooperation agenda led by the heads of South Asian nations. Declaration: www.seventeenthsaarcsummit.mv 5HDG 0XUDOL·V IXOO UHÁHFWLRQV RQ WKH UHFHQW ,&:* meeting at: www.freshwateraction.net/ICWG2011

FANSA STRATEGY TO FOCUS ON CONSOLIDATING RIGHTS WORK Following a recent strategic review, culminating in the strategy meeting in October 2011, FANSA have launched their strategy for 2012 – 2015. The focus for the next three years will build upon the human rights to water and sanitation as well as strengthening the network, improving overall visibility and building the capacity of its member base. Syed Shah Nasir Khisro, National Convenor for FANSA Pakistan, took part in the three day meeting. Read an interview with him online: www.freshwateraction.net/FANSAvision To read the strategy, visit www.freshwateraction.net/fansastrategy or email arpita@fansasia.net for more information.

Read FANSA Pakistan’s campaign plan: www.freshwateraction.net/sanitationcampaign 13

FRESHWATER ACTION NETWORK – SOUTH AMERICA (FANAS) A NETWORK IN MOTION: DEVELOPING SHARED SOLUTIONS FOR COMMON PROBLEMS In December, new FANAS member Leonardo Tambussi attended the joint FAN / EWP advocacy planning PHHWLQJ LQ ZKLFK RYHU DFWLYLVWV LQà XHQFHUV DQG communicators gathered to create a global advocacy plan. Here, he shares his involvement in the network so far, including his experience of taking part in the planning meeting. I am a trained graphic designer working in communications at the International Institute for Environment and Development IIED-Latin America, based in Argentina. The institute carries out research and capacity building projects in order to contribute to the development of a fair, participatory, democratic and sustainable society. We joined FANAS at the end of 2010 when Gustavo Pandiella, my colleague at IIED-AL, became the national coordinator of the newly established national network in Argentina. Communications play a key role in our campaigning work. A campaign needs to capture the imagination and convince people to take action and voice their support. We make this happen through communications, developing the right messages and pushing them out to as many people as possible. Thanks to my communications expertise, I was nominated to attend the advocacy planning meeting. The expectation was that I would share my experience with the other networks within FAN Global and enrich the FAN communication platform after taking part.

14

Leonardo Tambussi at the advocacy planning meeting in December

illuminating. The experience showed me that we share some common problems and have developed some common solutions. This is how the network was able to move towards common goals. Shared learning; the two words that stay in my mind when I think of what this meeting meant to me on a personal level. All the members who took part were open and took the time to listen to and internalize subjects that are constantly developing and this is the reason why I feel the network is in motion, it is progressing.

I learnt a tremendous amount from my participation. Now, I understand the enormous and substantial work taking place in this global network. One of the most important things I learnt was how to understand and address what it means to generate an action plan, set an objective and link activities between the grassroots and government level. We also considered how the plans relate to other networks working on climate FKDQJH :$6+ KHDOWK DQG ÀQDQFH

I leave you with my thoughts on how to continue promoting and carrying out our messages. As a communicator, I believe that once the action plans have been developed for each of the networks, the corresponding communication plans can be used to develop one unique and common advocacy PHVVDJH WKDW DOO ÀYH UHJLRQDO QHWZRUNV FDQ VKDUH Finally, I’m excited that IIED Latin America will include a special focus on FAN Global and the network themes in the next issue of their bi-annual journal, Environment DQG 8UEDQL]DWLRQ featuring case studies from each of the networks.

Developing relationships with colleagues of other nationalities while closely planning our strategy was

Follow FANAS on Facebook: Red FANAS or search for redfanas@gmail.com

A forum for sharing learning and experiences A platform for dialogue and LQĂ XHQFH A link between local and global A network of change-makers

CONTACT FAN AND REGIONAL NETWORKS

CARTOONS : Bill Crooks

Freshwater Action Network Global Secretariat (FAN)

FAN Mexico (FANMex)

Danielle Morley

Executive Secretary

Ceridwen Johnson

Network and Communications Manager

Nathalie Seguin $QJHOLND .RQLHFNL

Mary O’Connell

Advocacy and Learning Manager

Isabella Montgomery Communications Coordinator Stephanie Shillinglaw Program Assistant Freshwater Action Network, 1st Floor, 47 - 49 Durham Street, London SE11 5JD, United Kingdom

+44 20 7793 4509 +44 20 7793 4545 info@freshwateraction.net www.freshwateraction.net www.twitter.com/fannetwork

African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation (ANEW) Baker Yiga Matovu

Executive Secretary

Jameson Courts - Ngong Road (Next to Kobil Petrol Station) PO Box 58684 00200 Nairobi Kenya Skype

+254 72 5544365 bakeryiga@anewafrica.org anewafrica.comms www.anewafrica.net

Freshwater Action Network – Central America (FANCA) Jorge Mora AndrÊs Mora Vanessa Dubois

Regional Coordinator Regional Communications 2IĂ€FHU GTF Coordinator

P.O. Box 1852-2050, Costa Rica

+ 506 2280-6516 + 506 2281-3290 fancaregional@gmail.com www.fanca.co.nr

Skype

Executive Director 5HJLRQDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU

+52 55 84217261 From 8am-4pm Mexico City time (2pm-10pm GMT) fanmexnathalie@gmail.com (Director) fanmex@gmail.com (Communications) www.fanmexico.net fanmexico

Freshwater Action Network - America del Sur/ do Sul (FANAS) German Rocha Ninon Machado /HRQDUGR 7DPEXVVL

Regional Coordinators 5HJLRQDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU

F R ,QVWLWXWR ,SDQHPD 5XD 6HUDĂ€P 9DODQGUR Q ² Botafogo, CEP: 22260-110, Rio de Janerio, Brazil

+55 21 2527 8747 ltambussi@iied-al.org.ar

Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) Ramisetty Murali Arpita DĂŠ 3UDNDVK $PDW\D

Convenor Regional Coordinator 5HJLRQDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2IĂ€FHU

FANSA Regional Secretariat H.No.2-127/4 First Floor, Plot No.4, East Kalyanpuri, Uppal, Hyderabad 500 039, India

+91 40 6454 3830 convenor@fansasia.net Mob +91 9392 131 113 arpita@fansasia.net Mob +91 8106 777 881 prakasha@mos.com.np Mob +977 9851 097 910 www.fansasia.net www.facebook.com/fansouthasia

Freshwater News, FAN’s printed newsletter, is produced twice yearly and contains news from the FAN secretariat, FAN members and FAN regional networks. We post a copy to all our members and solidarity members, but you can also download PDF versions in English, French and Spanish (and now Portuguese) from our website: www.freshwateraction.net

Editor: Isabella Montgomery. Contributors: Prakash Amatya, Andres Mora, Ceridwen Johnson, Nathalie Seguin, Angelika Koniecki, Judith Auma, Moseki Keneilwe, OusÊni Diallo, Marc Mellin, Mary O’Connell, Lisa Dorstek, Robyn Hopcroft, Leonardo Tambussi, Ron Saywer and Danielle Morley. Thanks to the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) for supporting this newsletter

15

MEMBER IN FOCUS: CONCEPCIĂ“N DE NARANJO COMMUNITY WATER DISTRICT FANCA member ConcepciĂłn de Naranjo Community :DWHU 'LVWULFW LV D NH\ SDUWQHU LQ )$1¡V *RYHUQDQFH DQG Transparency Fund (GTF) and has played a critical role in the work FANCA has been doing to improve the legal framework governing community-managed water services in Costa Rica. ConcepciĂłn de Naranjo Community Water District is one of 1,600 community-run water services providing potable water to 26% of Costa Rica’s population. Marc Mellin, President, describes the main challenges faced by organizations like his: “The main political challenge is obtaining recognition for the fact that we exist. Community managed water services in Costa Rica provide water for 1.3 million people, and yet many government institutions are not even aware of their existence and assume that the state-run entity, AyA, provides water services to the entire country.â€? While there are some existing regulations by which the community services should abide, they are considered WR EH RXWGDWHG LQĂ H[LEOH DQG QRW DSSURSULDWH IRU ZDWHU management at the community level. Community-run services are required to ask the Federal Government’s SHUPLVVLRQ WR LQVWDOO ZDWHU PHWHUV RU WR Ă€[ D OHDN LQ D SLSH Since the regulations are so detached from with reality, they are widely ignored. The biggest social challenge is getting the community involved in the management of their water system. Costa Rica receives an average annual rainfall of 2200 mm. :LWK VR PXFK ZDWHU LW¡V GLIĂ€FXOW IRU SHRSOH WR XQGHUVWDQG the need to charge so much for it, but piping water into people’s homes is an expensive business. Community managed services often serve sparsely populated areas and that means that there are greater lengths of pipe to maintain for fewer customers.

Some of the ConcepciĂłn de Naranjo Community Water District VWDII IURP OHIW WR ULJKW 5RGULJR 0XULOOR 3LSHĂ€WWHU )RQWDQHUR 0DUF Mellin, President, recently retired Enrique Castro and Arturo Araya, Administrator

has been submitted to Congress and is currently making its way through the political process. The bill would give community-led services greater autonomy so that they can make decisions that they do not currently have the authority to make. One of the most important features of the new legal framework is that it would give the community-led services some limited freedom to set the rates that they charge customers. The current authorized rates are lower than what the municipal water districts can charge. They bring in just enough money to pay the basic costs of getting water to the community, but they do not cover all of the extra costs involved in maintaining a water system in the long term. Read more on the website: www.freshwateraction.net/naranjo

Education is also crucial and Concepción de Naranjo &RPPXQLW\ :DWHU 'LVWULFW RUJDQL]HV ÀHOG WULSV VR WKDW anyone in the community can visit the springs that supply their region and see what it takes to protect them. Through these activities, people are made aware of how it’s necessary to purchase land surrounding the springs and to keep the source protected from livestock, agrochemicals and other human activities to keep the water clean for generations to come. A new legal framework Along with FANCA, Marc Mellin and his organization have been involved in the development of a legal framework which will enable community-run services to operate ZLWK JUHDWHU HIÀFLHQF\ 7KH ZRUN VWDUWHG LQ ZKHQ a group of community-led service leaders took it upon themselves to travel around the country and speak to other FRPPXQLW\ OHG VHUYLFH UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV WR ÀQG RXW ZKDW should be done in terms of creating guidelines. The result of this process was the development of a draft bill which to landfill printed by seacourt: proud to be counted amongst the top three environmental printers in the world

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